Lead Quality Engineer

United Concrete•Wallingford, CT

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior/Lead Quality Engineer serves as a key leader within the Quality Control department, responsible for overseeing daily QC functions, leading compliance inspections, and ensuring all precast concrete products meet company standards, customer specifications, and applicable industry and transportation agency codes. This role takes ownership of quality documentation, audits, and regulatory compliance while supervising, scheduling, and training a team of 3–5 QC technicians and floor personnel. Reporting to the Quality Control Manager, the Senior/Lead Quality Engineer acts as a hands-on leader who drives a culture of quality, mentors team members, and supports continuous improvement throughout the facility. As a Senior/Lead Quality Engineer at United Concrete, you are the front line of our 70-year reputation for excellence—every structure we produce supports the safety and infrastructure of communities across New England. This is a high-impact leadership role where your expertise directly shapes product quality, mentors the next generation of QC professionals, and positions you for continued growth within our organization.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in quality assurance/quality control, preferably in precast concrete, construction materials, or a related manufacturing environment
Proven experience supervising, scheduling, and training QC personnel
Demonstrated experience facilitating DOT, transportation agency, PCI, and/or NPCA audits
High School diploma or equivalent required
ACI Concrete Field-Testing Technician – Grade I certification required (or ability to obtain within 3 months of hire and maintain certification)
Strong knowledge of construction materials and concrete testing methods
Thorough understanding of DOT and transportation agency documentation and audit requirements
Proficient in reading blueprints/shop drawings and applying quality standards and inspection techniques
Strong computer skills (Microsoft Office, data entry, and quality reporting/documentation software)
Excellent leadership, problem-solving, attention to detail, and communication skills
Ability to work independently, lead a team, and prioritize in a fast-paced production environment

Nice To Haves

2-year technical college degree or 4-year degree preferred
Advanced QC certifications strongly preferred (e.g., NPCA/PCI Level I/II, DOT QC Inspector Certification, ACI advanced certifications)

Responsibilities

Perform and oversee daily compressive strength testing of hardened concrete specimens
Conduct and supervise fresh concrete testing (slump, air content, temperature, unit weight, and specimen casting)
Perform inspections of manufactured precast structures, including dimensional checks, finish quality, and embedment/reinforcement placement verification
Lead daily compliance inspections to ensure adherence to quality standards and procedures
Provide hands-on enforcement of the quality control program throughout the facility
Maintain detailed documentation for DOT and transportation agencies in the New England area
Maintain comprehensive records for raw materials, certifications, equipment, calibrations, and test results
Manage logs for Nonconformance Records (NCR), Requests for Information (RFI), and site inspections
Prepare comprehensive daily, weekly, and monthly reports for the QC area
Develop and execute internal quality audits
Facilitate DOT and transportation agency audits
Facilitate PCI and NPCA audits
Supervise, schedule, and train a team of 3–5 QC technicians and floor personnel
Assist the QC Manager in investigating root causes of defects and implementing corrective actions
Prepare for and lead quality meetings and manage punch lists
Report to the management team on process improvements, repetitive mistakes, and quality concerns